SOUTHAVEN, MS (abc24.com) - Despite having the busiest ER in the Mid-South, Baptist DeSoto Hospital in Southaven is making great strides in cutting needless injuries.
The last year Baptist DeSoto has made a big push to reduce injuries to both patients and nurses.
Tammy Meredith has spent the last three weeks being treated at Baptist DeSoto Hospital.
"I had pneumonia and also had a seizure with complications, it left me unable to walk," she said. "Now I'm walking mostly with a walker."
She has peace of mind knowing the hospital has a high safety record.
Staff started a new program last year. They spent over one and a half million dollars on new equipment to help safely handle patients.
"We embarked upon a culture change," said Cheryl Berry, Director of Nursing for Baptist DeSoto. "Anything we do to lift a patient, anything we do to move a patient from a stretcher to a bed or a bed to a chair."
"It helps nurses with their back injuries, which is a big issue for the nursing staff," said Alex Myers, President of ArjoHuntleigh, the European company designing the program.
"We've done around 600 of these programs this has been one of the best ones."
According to Berry, "We have seen an 80 percent reduction in injuries."
Every week, nurses lift the equivalent of how much a car weighs. Because of the fewer nurse injuries, Baptist DeSoto has seen fewer patient injuries. A hospital spokesperson says they're virtually nonexistent.
Baptist Desoto was the first hospital to implement this program. Baptist is now in the process of putting these safety measures in its 13 other hospitals.
